Friction shock absorber for railway draft riggings



March 2, 1948. H G. E. DATH 2,436,917

FRICTION SHOCK ABSORBER FOR RAILWAY DRAFT RIGGINGS Filed Oct. 18, 1944 Patented Ma 2, 1948 FRICTION SHOCK ABSORBER FOR RAIL- WAY DRAFT RIGGINGS i George E. Dath, Mokena IlL, assignor to ,W. H. Miner, Inc., Chicago; 111.; a corporation of Delaware Application October 18, 1944, Serial No. 559,151}

This invention relates to improvements in friction shock absorbers for railway draft riggings especially adapted for railway cars.

One object of the invention is to provide a friction shock absorber for railway draft riggings, comprising a friction casing having a friction shell section atone, end thereof and a cylindrical spring cage section rearwardly of the friction shell provided with retaining shoulders; a friction clutch within the friction shell-section, including a wedge and friction shoes, the wedge having shouldered engagement with the casing to limit outward'movement of the wedge; a spring resistance within the spring cage section of the casing; a spring cap telescoped within the rear end of the spring cage; and a detachable retainer for the spring cap having shouldered engagement with the shoulders of the casing and bearin on the cap to limit outward movement of the latter,

A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanism as set forth in the preceding paragraph, wherein the retainer and cap are held interlocked by the spring resistance of the mechanism to prevent relative lateral displacement of 1 the retainer with respect to the cap, thereby maintaining the former in position to engage the shoulders of the casing.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide in a shock absorber comprising a casing, a preliminary spring cap slidable within the easing and having its inward movement opposed by spring means within the casing, and a retainer for the spring cap having radial lugs slidably engaged in lengthwise extending, diametrically opposed openings in the casing walls, wherein the openings of the casing walls are closed at their outer ends to'provide shoulders for limiting outward movement of the retainer, and the retainer bears on the rear side of the cap to limit outward movement of the latter, and wherein the parts are so proportioned thatthe retainer may be assembled and interlocked with the casing by entering the former while tilted through the rear end of the latter so that the lugs of the retainer will'pass freely into the casing and said lugs will project into the openings of the casing in position to engage the shoulders of the latter when I the retainer is righted.

' Other objects of the-invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims-hereinafter following.

In the drawing forming a part of this specifica tion, Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a fric- 4 Claims. (C zit-34) shock absorber. Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view, corresponding substantially to the line 3-3 of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a transversevertical sectional view, corresponding to the line; 4-4- of Figure 3. Figure 5 is a horizontal, longitudinal sectional view of the rear end portion of the mechanism shown in Figure 3, corresponding substantially to the line 55 of Figure 2, the,

- spring means of the shock absorber being omitted in Figure 5.

My improved friction shock absorber, as illustratedin the drawing, comprises broadly a friction casing A; a wedge block B; three friction g shoes CCC; 'a preliminary spring cap D; a

retainer E for the spring cap; and a spring resistance F.

The casing A is in the form of a tubular casting having a friction shell section III at the forward end and a spring cage section II rearwardly' cally opposite sides of the casing and in trans-- verse alignment. Each opening I2 is of rectangular outline and, in effect, forms a guide slot ex-- tending lengthwise of the casing. The transverse: rear end walls of the openings l2l2 provide transversely aligned stop shoulders l3-I3 for limiting outward movement of the retainer E.

The friction shell section of the casing is of hexagonal, transverse cross section, presenting six inwardly converging friction surfaces [4. As

,shown in Figure 3, the walls of the shell are.

thickened at the friction surfaces l4, said friction surfaces being spaoed inwardly from the front end of the casing. At the forward end thereof, the friction shell section of the casing is provided with a continuous inturned stop flange Thewedge B is in the form of a hollow block having three inwardly converging, fiat wedge faces I6 at the inner end thereof arranged symmetrically about the longitudinal central axis of the mechanism. At the outer end, the wedge is reduced in size, said reduced portion being in the form' of a hexagonal projection I1 extending through the opening defined by the flange l5 of the casing. The projection I1 protrudes from the casing, as shown in Figure 3, and has a flat, transverse, outer end face I 8 adapted to receive the actuating force. The reduced portion of the wedge provides a lateral shoulder 19 at the inner end or the projection adapted to engage in back brace the cap D at opposite sides. and the outen of the flange l5 of the casing to limit outward ends of the shoes C, a central coil 35 bearing at movement of the wedge. its front end on the inner end of the wedge B, The shoes C, which are three in number, are and a coil 36 between the coils 35 and 34, that arranged between the wedge faces of the block B is, surrounding the coil 35, bearing at its front and the friction surfaces of the casing. Each end on the shoes C--C-C. The rear ends of shoe has an outer friction surface 20 of V-shaped, the coils 35 and. 36 extend through the opening transverse 9 -9 l 1fi 'ti l .WZ'QQHYQQ}; ,3. 9?, 3 fi 1 9. 9HP99KE "l were i v 'i v. :5 p, e e mine a d-b e nth? g i an t e-s ring as,

shell sectioifin ofthe casing. Each'shoehas a? and" 36"'ar'eunder' initial 'omfiressionend thus wedge face 2!, correspondingly inclined to and; 1 9 hold the cap seated against the retainer E and engaging one of the wedge faces N5 of the wedgeI the lugs 33 of the retainer seated against the stop At the rear end, each shoe has a, flat, translrerse sheulsiers e 3; OI, the C n face forming an abutment for the spring].'rlesisti- "In! assem ling t e mechanism, the Wedge B. ance F. sh esC C-Q, and spring F are inserted within The spring cap D is in the form-pi. Are 15, th t' h the open rear end thereof. thick, hollow, clisclike member" hatifig'fi The front' end 0 friction casing is buttressed warclly opening pocket 22 of cylindrical shape against a support with the wedge free so that provided with opposed curved sid wallsu2-3- 2'3l it remains intheiirojected position shown in Figand a vertical outer end wall 24. The dis flee 11113 3, The cap D is then applied, the same becap has a cylindrical outer wall 25 and'w'wertical' 20 mg "first axially aligned with the casing and outer and inner walls and Z], the outer wall turned to a position with the open 2 29 26 rormfijng a cpntmaano the waiirrr respectiyelfat'f'thesides" of the asingwhere the eckeflzz,thewaif zafigi gin erqiybriset hj openings l z -lzrareb ovidee. h le in this respect to the wall '251 The wall 26 prov? position the cap'is'piished into'the casing against fiat abutment sur'reeged rltegi 'tf heai" fi'th'ei 25 tliees s aii etftn 'iser ngs saysa'ana as; being usual rear follower -01f the aft ri' (The inner wall 21 connects the 'cyl ndri'c all 2 e p ed a e was 2.34m i f'e 22. n s provided w tea eetra qe f cular outline, forming 'acontinuatianf of Pa k th pr e eeD s ut p t. at Cally Opposite i e premier y i nd e r wers--29 nee e e r te si eertieee" ii h e ai ef hereinafter eefi j e-i the el t e 'tl e cap, diametri'cal slots or seats'30-3U- are undercut by slotting'the arms, v V sa es, to facilitate, ass gip y or t with. he 353 5 0,. h s ts dent wit t eele m e i e b o t ne pb tions of the casing'A re enerate thebpeniiigs 25-49 so that the retainer may be laterally dis placed to one side a semeieataistsnaetetanus engagement of'the mes as -ss withith (gaffe sponding openings 25- 29of the casing. Aswill be evident, the arms 32"32 ofth'e rtainerlemend of the cap. is seated against the: transverse. barlike section 3| of theretainer, th latter-bee ing us held centered and ppsitirely limited in its ou ward movement.

The spring e eif eqe re erable emgrisss, h e 15 relett e p er c il h 2% t reel" e H ati 9 he seriee s e e t we??? and w e .i a

Fi r 3 y the eemelleiye .ei i eizd mpremee et by he step: flange the spring cap being limited by the retainer ele ment E which, in turn, has its outward movement limited by engagement of the lugs 3333 thereof with the stop shoulders I3-|3 of the casing.

I have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferred manner of carrying out my invention, but the same is merely illustrative and I contemplate all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a friction shock absorber, the combination with a lengthwise extending casing having a a friction shell section at one end; of a lengthwise movable spring cap telescoped within the other end of the casing; a retaining element for said spring cap, said retaining element having laterally projecting retaining lugs, and said casing having lengthwise extending slots closed at the rear end within which said lugs are engaged, the lugs of said retaining element clearing the interior side walls of the casing when the retaining element is tilted at an angle with respect to a transverse plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the casing to permit insertion of the retaining element, said element when righted with the lugs transversely aligned with the slots having the lugs engaged in said slots; a friction clutch slidingly telescoped within the spring cage section of the casing; and spring means yieldingly opposing relative lengthwise inward movement of the clutch and spring cap.

2. In a friction shock absorber, the combination with a lengthwise extending casing having a friction shell section at one end and a spring cage section at the other end, said casing having diametrically opposite openings in the walls of the spring cage section thereof; of a lengthwise movable spring cap telescoped within the spring cage section of the casing; a retaining element for said cap, said retaining element having laterally projecting retaining lugs projecting outwardly beyond the inner surfaces of the side walls of the casing and engaged within the openings of said side walls, the lugs of said retaining element clearing theinterior side walls of the casing when the retaining element is tilted at an angle with respect to a transverse plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the casing to permit insertion of the retaining element, said element when righted with the lugs transversely aligned with the slots having the lugs engaged in said slots; a friction clutch slidingly telescoped within the friction section of the casing;

and spring means yieldingly opposing relative lengthwise inward movement of the clutch and spring cap.

3. In a friction shock absorber, the combination with a lengthwise extending casing having a friction shell section at one end and a spring cage section at the other end, said casing having diametrically opposed openings in the side walls of the spring cage section thereof, said openings having stop shoulders at the rear ends thereof; of a retaining element on which said spring cap bears, said retaining element having laterally projecting lugs extending laterally outwardly beyond the inner surfaces of the side walls of the cage section and being engaged in said openings of the casing, and engageable with said stop shoulders tolimit outward movement of said element, the lugs of said retaining element clearing the interior side walls of the casing when the retaining element is tilted at an angle with respect to a transverse plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the casing to permit insertion of the retaining element, said element when righted with the lugs transversely aligned with the slots having the lugs engaged in said slots; a, friction clutch slidingly telescoped within the spring cage section; and spring means yieldingly opposing relative lengthwise inward movement of the clutch and lengthwise inward movement of the spring cap and retaining element.

4. In a friction shock absorber, the combination with a lengthwise extending casing having a friction shell section at one end and a spring cage section at the other end, said casing having diametrically opposed openings in the side walls of the spring cage section thereof, said openings having stop shoulders at the rear ends thereof; of a U-shaped retaining element embracing said cap and on which the cap bears, said retaining element having laterally, outwardly projecting retaining lugs on the arms thereof engaged in said openings of the casing, and engageable with said stop shoulders to limit outward movement of said element, the lugs of said retaining element clearing the interior side walls of the casing when the retaining element is tilted at an angle with respect to a transverse plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the casing to permit insertion of the retaining element, said element when righted with the lugs transversely aligned with the slots having the lugs engaged in said slots; a friction clutch slidingly telescoped Within the spring cage section; and spring means yieldingly opposing relative lengthwise inward movement of the clutch and lengthwise inward movement of the spring cap.

GEORGE E. DATH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

